Well, we had all three last Friday evening with our annual ‘Welcome Summer’ party! Although, having had our yard sprayed recently for mosquitoes {I desperately want them all to DIE!! especially since I am pregnant!}, we still had a few. And the flies. THE FLIES. Pesky little varmints they are!

Addressing the three “issues” above, first, here are my 10 keys, tidbits, for hosting a great summer backyard party…in the south:

Use those collapsible mesh food tents – like these from World Market that I have! They also make useful fly swatters while people are actually fixing their plates! :)

Buy bug repellent and tell people you have it. Poor R ended up with three bites on his forehead of all stinking places!!!

We purchased a mister fan, but it didn’t arrive in time, so Andrew put up a misting hose along one corner of our home. Thankfully, that wild storm that blew through here Friday afternoon {and it was wild!} took care of most of the heat, and left us with mid-80’s temps instead of the sweltering 97 we were slated for. I asked a few people if we needed to turn the mister on, and they all said it was fine…so we didn’t even have to use it! We also had lots of shade under the massive oak tree in our backyard and had a couple of areas set up for people to sit under said tree.

KIDS. We had 21 kids RSVP’d on our guest list…the adults were nearly outnumbered! Kidding…we would never let that happen! But to entertain all these kids, we had a bounce house {with a slide}, and a smaller one that we own set up next to it, for the littles. We also had the two swings in full use {my heart was filled with joy to see kids swirling around on the one Andrew just put up for us!}, a hammock, and of course yard toys like R’s grill set.

We also had corn hole set up for the big people – and it was in constant use. I think a bag or two may have been swiped a few times from a little person seeking attention, but all in all, the bigs had as much fun as the littles!

For the adults, it was BYOB. Bring Your Own Beverage of choosing…That way, we didn’t have to please every people group, AND as many of you have done before, we weren’t left with 15 bottles of red wine that no one drank! We provided ice, cups, fun umbrella straws {which only my friend Najla used…}, sodas, bottled water and CapriSun Roaring Waters for the youngins!

FOOD: We served Little Pigs’ barbeque, hot dogs, potato salad, coleslaw, cantaloupe and a large bowl of mixed berries and grapes. Along with more bread than anyone could ever eat {Andrew, I love you!} – so if you need a roll or a hot dog bun for the next 2 weeks, let me know…we have lots of bread/buns left over!!!

For dessert I thought about tubs of ice cream or little single-serve sundaes, but opted for the Popsicles instead – fruit flavored and fudge! Most of the adults chose fudge…silly kids.

Everything was disposable, save some of my serving dishes, and we kept a trashcan outside so people could easily find it. My father-in-law got tasked a few times to dump and reload {what a great guy!}.

Lights!!! For when it gets dark outside. Our party was scheduled to end by 9:30 p.m. so that we could all get some rest…and it was dark by then anyway. We had lights up from last year and then I bought some fun “paper” lanterns in pink and orange that I hung from a couple of trees {I sure wish someone had a photo of me tossing my ball of twine up in the air hoping to score a branch at 6 a.m. Friday morning!}, and another area, along with stringing these lovelies {see photo below-below} under the inside of the umbrella I just got from World Market!

That’s it! Really…we go for the fun and relaxed sort of party/get-togethers and this one definitely was. I heard several dads say that it was the most fun family party they’d been to – which made me really thankful and appreciative for the blessing of our home and the people we have in our lives!!

About 2 {or more…} months ago I got a wild hair and asked Andrew to put a swing in our back yard. One of those rope and wood, basic as basic can be, sorts of swings that hangs from a tree limb. We have this ginormous oak tree in our back yard and there is at least one or even two limbs that are perfect for this sort of fun!

We went to Lowe’s, he bought a ton of rope and a long wooden board.

And then life happened.

Time passed and one lone rope hung from that massive oak tree in our back yard.

Last weekend I asked Andrew to please put it together so that we could enjoy it.

This weekend it got finished {life happens EVERY day.}….and I was beyond thrilled and so were our sweet kids!

Saturday afternoon, the weather was near perfect so we got outside and while the kids played with small rakes, croquet balls and R’s plastic baseball set, Andrew and I got to work on our swing.

R took a break…”Daddy, what your doin’?”

“Daddy’s making a swing for you and sister.”

With knotted rope, it was time to shimmy that bad boy up to the limb…

Yours truly had the honor of pulling that rope down and the knot up…

This was my serious face…”GIT.UP.THAT.TREE!”

That is my “I LOVE THIS!!!” face!!

So then Sunday afternoon, Andrew finished drilling the holes in the board and pulling the rope through so that we would have a seat.

Reynolds made sure it was level for us.

It is the best thing ever.

Sorry for the blurry pictures but we were having so much fun!

Eliza Jane nearly cried when we got off, so she and I got back on the swing and went until her nose and ears were frozen {not really, but it was getting cold!}.

Our seat is long enough for Andrew and me both to sit on it {bonus!}…and one picture I didn’t get was all four of us swinging and laughing. For anyone that is doing the “30 days of Thanks”….this weekend, today and forever more I will be thankful for my husband, our kids and that swing!

We planned to leave directly after church was over – changing in the car on the way there {that’s always fun…} and got there as the cars were pulling in like a herd of cattle. bahahaha

As we found our parking spot my eye caught a glimpse of orange. “Burn! They have a pumpkin patch!” I yelled at Andrew {yes, his nick-name is Burn…} This was about to be so much fun. Maybe for the kids, but certainly for me in my joy of seeing them touch and explore new things on the farm.

Everything from tractors to a bluegrass band to the little piglets that have grown since we last saw them!

We saw the grits mill and rode on a hay ride, then Eliza Jane found the goats…

She is completely fearless.

Then the ducks and chickens were making all kinds of loud noises…and after nearly pulling Eliza Jane out of the coop’s entrance…we found some other animals.

A calf that was just too sweet alongside a little lamb {Mary had a little lamb…}

And our little buddy, Raisin Cain…

I think she’s some kind of animal whisperer…look at the other kids’ faces as she puts her hand right out there for Raisin…

Just a few more tractors on our way out.

To the pumpkin patch!

I was thankful for sunshine…and certainly for Old McCaskill’s Farm opening their doors to all the people that showed up {and there were A LOT!}. And for the opportunity for our kiddos to see all of these animals and farm life up close and personal!
For more information on Old McCaskill’s Farm, check our their website: http://www.oldmccaskillfarm.com/

I really enjoy Fall because with it comes cooler temperatures, the beautiful changes in tree colors AND college football season!

But, if I had to choose a most favorite season, which is today’s challenge, I choose Spring.

Spring is the breaking forth of newness. Spring shows me a new year, a new beginning and newness of life. Daffodils and Forsythia burst forth from the dreariness of Winter, promising something new. Flowers of all brightness and color pop out to show their glory. And cheerfulness takes over the hum-drum that can often result from clouds and cold.

These photos are of the flowers and plants I planted this Spring in Lily’s flower bed {read about that post here}. All reminders to me of the beauty of Spring and what I have to look forward to next year when that flower bed is in full bloom!

It was a beautiful place, with several building and barns, which are rent-able for weddings and other occasions.

But on Saturday we were there for the Tractor Show…not even the yard sale…the Tractor Show.

The owner from Peach Festival Gardens had told us that the Hit Miss engine at the front of the show was his. I don’t really know much about these things…but it’s some kind of engine and I suspect someone would be impressed, and that the price was a heck of a deal! :)

I personally loved seeing all the old tractors that have been shown A LOT of TLC.

{Don’t miss the little John Deere ↑ in this picture ↑!!!}

We saw a gentleman riding a tractor around, pulling a little train of barrels cut out for little kids and big kids…. We convinced R to ride…with Daddy.

I’m quite sure that the grandpa pulling up the caboose was having more fun than anyone out there!

While the boys enjoyed their train ride, Eliza Jane and I sat on the porch of one of the barns and chatted with an older couple from our side of Columbia. I was a little surprised that they, like us, had driven all the way over to this part of town – the country part of Lexington at this point – for an Antique Tractor Show. But then, so had we!

There were some folks smoking up some barbeque so we walked over to inquire about a plate. Note to self, if you go to the country, take cash-money.

While the food smelled absolutely delicious and I’m sure I started to drool, they told us that they didn’t take cards when Andrew asked about forms of payment. “You don’t have any cash in your car?” He asked me.

Coins. Coins are all that you can find in my car.

The nice man said, “Well, what were you wanting to get?” Andrew told him that we were interested in a barbeque plate for us and a hot dog for Reynolds.

“Well, we can’t let the kid go hungry.”

BAH! This kid has never gone hungry….and I said it out-loud…

Very kindly, they gave Reynolds a yummy hot dog. {I may have had a bite.}

Meanwhile, my tastebuds were set on some barbeque so we found a little place not far from the Tractor Show, called Belly’s Barbeque. I’ll just let you ponder that name for a moment. ;-)

It was delicious….Andrew said the mac-n-cheese was the best! And no, I didn’t get a bite…I was in the back seat feeding R french fries and EJ Nilla Wafers, while Andrew ate the mac-n-cheese with his fingers!!

Thankful for the blessing of being able to get out and explore on Saturday. One thing I love most about being “in the country” is seeing the fields.

“There’s just something about the country that I love.” I said to Andrew. It’s beautiful. No buildings. No hustle. It’s quiet and peaceful. It takes me back to summers with my grandparents. Both sets. They were farmer-gardeners and I remember picking corn and beans and peas and all sorts of things and learning about planting.

Some weekends we find ourselves wandering around town, trying to find something to do with the kiddos that’s either free or inexpensive. We’re not cheap, just frugal :)

Often we end up at Lowe’s….which, in most instances, does not turn out to be cheap OR frugal!!! Especially if daddy is along for the ride {hehe}.

This past Saturday was like most. Reynolds and Eliza Jane got up from their naps {wait, she didn’t even take one!!}, and we loaded them up and went to Lowe’s. {That’s right, Eliza Jane fell asleep in the car, like SHE does on most Saturdays…}.

After perusing the sale aisle and then letting Reynolds drive Dada’s tractor, we decided that it was time to leave before we frivolously spent money on things we didn’t need.

We purchased the last few plants, after careful consideration, for the flower bed and then came home to put them into it. After standing back and looking at everything, Andrew said, “I think we should dedicate this flower bed to Lily…and Baby Lucas.”

Added into our new flower bed are a Mock Orange…I looked for this plant for 2 years. No lie. We found it last Thursday at Woodley’s. Then, our neighbor, who is native Hawaiian, told me that they use the flowers from the Mock Orange in the Haku Lei (the crown of flowers)….

Super Bells

Wave Petunias

Salvia

Asiatic Lilies {of course, and these were insanely gorgeous when they bloomed}

Calla Lilies {from which Lily got her name}…and I don’t have a picture of them blooming because I planted bulbs with just a little greenery on them.

And anchoring the end is a Georgia Belle Peach Tree. I mean, being from Georgia, what else did you expect?! This tree is a self-fertile tree, meaning we didn’t need a second tree in order for it to produce fruit! And bonus! we already have some tiny little peaches…

Last, but certainly not least, is a sweet little flower that I got from Reynolds for Mother’s Day {his daycare did these}

It’s a little fuzzy tonight {I’m sure we’re going to have a major storm any minute..} and a wise man told me this weekend to give it a year or two, and it will be glorious.

I hope you, my friend, have had a lovely Monday….and thanks again for reading my blog…it’s been a huge blessing for me to be able to have this outlet, especially over the last month.

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